Use of polybutene in two-stroke engine oils

Abstract: This invention relates to a two-stroke engine oil which comprises polybutene base oils which are either very low in or are substantially free of n-butenes in the polymer backbone. The absence of n-butenes in the polybutenes significantly reduces smoke emission in exhaust gases generated by the use of the engine oil. Polybutenes such as ULTRAVIS® which are substantially free of chlorine and have a high degree of terminal unsaturation are particularly preferred.

Description: The present invention relates to two-stroke oils which comprise polybutene base oils which are either very low in or substantially free of n-butenes in the polymer backbone. Two-stroke engine oils are usually lubricating compositions which are used in admixture with a fuel and lubricate the moving parts of two-stroke engines. Such engines may include outboard engines with a power higher than 50 hp and rising upto 100 hp, air-cooled engines which may not only be used in motorcycles but also, for example, in chain-saws, skidoos or snowmobiles. A feature of these engines is their high speed of rotation and as a result they are hotter than engines used hitherto. Initially, the principle requirement of a lubricant for such an engine was for it to be able to form a stable and continuous film of oil on the affected parts not only at low temperatures to facilitate start-up but also at relatively higher operating temperatures in order to avoid fouling by the formation of deposits on engine parts which in turn could reduce performance of the engine or cause damage to the affected parts. More recently, the focus has been on oils which are environmentally friendly, ie the exhaust gases resulting from the combustion of the fuel and lubricant are clean, have minimum odour, do not give out visible smoke and, in addition, have reduced oil/fuel ratios. Polybutenes have been used for many years as components in two-stroke oils where, they give advantages over mineral oils in that they emit low visible exhaust smoke and result in low carbon deposit formation in the engine exhaust system. GB-A-1287579 (The British Petroleum Co Ltd) applied for in 1968 describes, for instance, the use of polyisobutylene polymer as a lubricant. However, typically, this specification does not give any method of manufacture of the poly(iso)butene nor indeed the source of C4 feedstock used as raw-material to produce these polyisobutylenes. It is well known that poly(iso)butenes used hitherto have invariably been produced from a mixture of butenes including n-butenes and isobutene eg from a feedstock which is primarily butadiene raffinate or a crude C4 stream from a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process and contains from 20-40% n-butenes. That was the case around the time of application of GB-A-1287579 as is apparent from GB-A-1340804 (Labofina SA, applied for in 1972) which describes the polymers as being manufactured from fractions containing hydrocarbons with 4 carbon atoms and the polymers produced therefrom are said to contain polybutylene and polyisobutylene in varying proportions, generally from 5-70% of polyisobutylene and from 95-30% of poly-n-butylenes. It has now been found that polybutenes which contain much lower levels of or are substantially free from n-butenes in the polymer backbone give superior performance not only in reducing visible smoke in the exhaust gases from a two-stroke engines but also in respect of low carbon deposit formation. Accordingly, the present invention is the use of a polybutene polymer or mixtures of polymers in a two-stroke engine oil comprising a mineral oil in an amount from 20-70% w/w in said oil and the said polymer or said mixtures of polymers in an amount from 15-80% w/w in said oil, for improving the reduction of smoke emission in the exhaust gases from two-stroke engines, said polymer or said mixtures of polymers having (i) a molecular weight (Mn) from 300-2000 and (ii) a proportion of n-butenes in the polymer backbone, as defined by the ratio of the infra-red absorbance of the -CH 2 CH 2 - n-butene units in the polymer at 740 cm -1 to that of the C-H overtone absorbance between 4315 and 4345 cm -1 , said proportion being lower than 0.2 for polybutenes with a value of Mn equal to or <700, and lower than 0.12 for polybutenes with Mn = >700. The definition for the proportion of n-butene (hereafter "NB") in the polymer backbone has been defined by the infra-red absorbance technique because this is a difficult concept to determine quantitatively In order to avoid these problems it was decided to develop an indigeneous method by comparing the corresponding infrared absorbances (at specified frequencies) of commercially available polybutenes and the PIB's low in n-butene content now used. This method uses the 740 cm -1 -CH 2 CH 2 - absorption as an indication of the relative n-butene content in the polymer backbone. It was used with a Nicolet 740 FTIR spectrometer fitted with DTGS detector and Csl beam splitte The spectrometer had KBr windows with 0.2 mm Teflon® spacer with small section cut out and a suitable cell holder. A spectrum of the sample was obtained using 4cm -1 resolution. The absorbance peak height of the 740cm -1 band between the baseline limits of the two minima in the 800 and 700cm -1 regions was then measured. The 4335cm -1 band was also characterised by measuring its absorbance peak height between the baseline limits 4750 and 3650cm -1 . The relative n-butene content was calculated as follows: Absorbance at 740cm -1 Absorbance at 4335cm -1 This is the method used in the calculations set out below. For this exercise, the polybutene (PIB) which had a relatively low n-butene content or was substantially free therefrom was made by the process claimed and described in our published EP-A-0 145 235, ie a pre-formed boron trifluoride-ethanol complex is used as catalyst for the polymerisation of isobutene and the method described therein is incorporated herein by reference. This process resulted in a polymer which was not only low in n-butene content but was also substantially free of chlorine. The product of such a process is the ULTRAVIS® grades of polybutene (commercially available from BP Chemicals Ltd) used in the Examples. Polybutenes which are low in n-butene content or are substantially free therefrom can also be made using other processes by careful choice of feedstock and /or process conditions. For comparison purposes, the polybutene with a relatively higher n-butene content used was the commercially available HYVIS® grades (also available from BP Chemicals Ltd). It can be seen from the tabulated data below that there is indeed a significant difference in the respective absorbance ratios: IR Absorbance Ratio of Polymers at 740 cm-1 (NB)/4335 cm-1 (PIB) Polymer Viscosity (100°C) Mn NB/PIB Ratio HYVIS®5 104 764 0.278 PNB 07 14.7 540 1.120 HYVIS®PB25 25.0 530 0.32 ULTRAVIS®5 100 762 0.106 ULTRAVIS®3 60 645 0.147 HYVIS®10 223 962 0.203 ULTRAVIS®10 225 966 0.049 ULTRAVIS®PB25 25.3 510 0.150 Pure PIB 5 101 775 0.0 From this Table 1 it is apparent that most conventional grades of polybutene polymers have this absorbance ratio well above 0.2 at molecular weights (Mn) below 700 and well above 0.12 at Mn >700. A further feature of the present invention is that the PIB polymers now used can also be substantially free of chlorine. The presence of chlorine or derivatives thereof in exhaust gases are undesirable and hence the use of chlorine-free PIB's is most desirable. It has been found that whereas two-stroke engine oils formulated from eg HYVIS®5 and HYVIS®10 respectively have ∼97 and ∼45 ppm chlorine, those produced from ULTRAVIS®5 and ULTRAVIS®10 each has <5ppm of chlorine. This is due to the fact that no chlorine containing compounds are used in the production of ULTRAVIS® Grades of polybutenes. Thus, the level of chlorine in the latter is below the detectable levels and can be considered to be substantially free of chlorine. Thus, according to a further embodiment, the present invention is the use of a polybutene polymer or mixtures of polymers in a two-stroke engine oil comprising a mineral oil in an amount from 20-70% w/w in said oil and the said polymer or said mixtures of polymers in an amount from 15-80% w/w in said oil, for improving the reduction of smoke emission in the exhaust gases from two-stroke engines, said polymer or said mixtures of polymers having a number average molecular weight (Mn) from 300-2000, characterised in that the proportion of n-butene in the polymer backbone, as defined by the ratio of the infra-red absorbance of the polymer at 740 cm -1 to that at 4335 cm -1 , is <0.2 at Mn of the polymer equal to or <700, and <0.12 at Mn of the polymer >700, and said lubricating oil is substantially free of chlorine. The PIB's used in the two-stroke engine oils of the present invention suitably have a viscosity in the range of 2 to 670 cSt for Mn ranging from 310-1300, preferably from 3-250 cSt and are most suited for the production of low smoke oils. The amount of PIB present in the two-stroke engine oil formulation is in the range from 15-80% w/w, more typically from 25-50% w/w. The other component present in such two-stroke oils is a mineral oil and is used in levels ranging from 20-70% w/w. To improve the detergency of such two-stroke engine oil formulations, it is usual to add low ash additives and a diluent such as kerosine to improve the handling of the formulation and to enhance the miscibility thereof with the fuel. Such two-stroke engine oil formulations may also contain synthetic esters, poly-α-olefins and alkylated benzenes to produce high performance products. The standardtest procedures used for evaluation are those developed by the Japanese Automotive Standards Organisation (JASO) to classify the performance of two-stroke oils. One of these tests (M342) involves a procedure to measure the formation of exhaust smoke during part of a test cycle. The result is expressed as a Smoke Index and is intemally referenced against a standard two-stroke oil ranked with a Smoke Index of 100. The higher the Smoke Index the greater is the reduction in smoke emission. The test uses a 70 cc, Suzuki Generator SX 800 R. The results of the smoke test of the oils are shown in Table 2 below. The present invention is further illustrated with reference to the following Examples: EXAMPLE 1: ULTPAVIS®5 polybutene (38% w/w) was blended with Solvent Neutral 500 mineral oil (36% w/w) and additives package ADX 3110 (8% w/w, ex BP Chemicals Additives Ltd) at 60°C in a mixer. Kerosine (18% w/w) was then added and the oil characteristics of the blend was measured. In a comparative experiment not according to the invention, the same amount of materials were mixed together except that ULTRAVIS®5 polybutene was replaced by HYVIS®5 polybutene. A JASO smoke test of the two formulations above revealed that ULTRAVIS®5 polybutene of low n-butene content in the polymer backbone provided the greater reduction in smoke emission than the corresponding formulation with HYVIS®5. The results of the tests are tabulated in Table 3 below: EXAMPLE 2: The process of Example 1 was repeated except that the Solvent Neutral mineral oil used was a blend of SN500 and SN150 (19/81 w/w). Also the polybutenes used were ULTRAVIS®10 (according to the invention) and HY-VIS®10 (comparative test, not according to the invention). The respective quantites of each of the components used was not strictly identical since such a strict and precise measurement of the respective components is not practicable and is not essential to gauge performance. The specific compositions used are tabulated in Table 2 below. The JASO smoke test revealed that the formulation containing ULTRAVIS®10 polybutene of low n-butene content in the polymer backbone provided a greater reduction in the smoke emission than the corresponding formulation containing HYVIS®10 with a relatively higher n-butene content. The results of this smoke test are tabulated in Table 3 below: TWO STROKE OIL FORMULATION Component HYVIS®10 ULTRAVIS®10 Polybutene 30.6 30.0 Min. Oil SN500/SN150 42.8 44.0 Additives ADX 3110 8.2 8.0 Kerosine Diluent 18.4 18.0 SMOKE TEST (JASO) Polymer NB/PIB ratio PIB content of lube Smoke Index ULTRAVIS®5 0.106 38.0 99 HYVIS®5 0.278 38.0 90 ULTRAVIS®10 0.049 30.0 81 HYVIS®10 0.203 30.6 74 EXAMPLE 3: ULTRAVIS®PB25 polybutene (36.6% w/w) was blended with solvent neutral 500 mineral oil (37.3% w/w) and additives package ADX 3110 (8.1% w/w, ex BP Chemicals Additives Ltd) at 60°C in a mixer. Kerosine (18.6% w/w) was then added and the oil characteristics of the blend determined. In a comparative test (not according to the invention) the same amount of materials were mixed together except that ULTRAVIS®PB25 polybutene was replaced with HYVIS®PB25 polybutene. The components present in these two formulations are shown in Table 4 below: TWO STROKE OIL FORMULATION Component HYVIS®PB25 ULTRAVIS®PB25 Polybutene 36.6 36.6 Min. Oil SN500/SN150 37.3 37.3 Additives ADX 3110 8.1 8.1 Kerosine Diluent 18.0 18.0 These formulations were subjected to a JASO Smoke Test as previously and the results obtained are shown in Table 5 below: SMOKE TEST (JASO) Polymer NB/PIB ratio PIB content of lube Smoke Index ULTRAVIS®PB25 0.150 36.6 97 HYVIS®PB25 0.320 36.6 95 Thus, the JASO Smoke Test on both of these formulations revealed that the formulation containing UL-TRAVIS®PB25 polybutenes of low n-butene content in the polymer backbone provided a greater reduction in smoke emission than the corresponding formulation containing HYVIS®PB25 polybutene with a relatively higher n-butene content in the polymer backbone. EXAMPLE 4: The process of Example 1 was repeated except that the polybutenes used were PPIB 5 (according to the invention) and HYVIS®5 (comparative test, not according to the invention) respectively. The respective quantities of each of the components used in the formulation was not strictly identical since such strict and precise measurements of the respective components is not essential to guage performance. The components in these formulations are shown in Table 6 below: TWO STROKE OIL FORMULATION Component PPIB5 HYVIS®5 Polybutene 38.0 38.0 Min. Oil SN500/SN510 35.9 36.0 Additives ADX 3110 8.0 8.0 Kerosine Diulent 18.1 18.0 A JASO Smoke Test was carried out on these formulations as previously and the results achieved are shown in Table 7 below: SMOKE TEST (JASO) Polymer NB/PIB ratio* PIB content of lube Smoke Index PPIB 5 0.0 38.0 95 HYVIS®5 0.278 38.0 90 Thus, the JASO Smoke Test revealed that the formulation containing PPIB 5 polybutene substantially free of n-butene content in the polymer backbone provided a greater reduction in the smoke emission than the corresponding formulation containing HYVIS®5 polybutene with a relatively higher n-butene content in the polymer backbone.

Claims: Use of a polybutene polymer or mixtures of polymers in a two-stroke engine oil comprising a mineral oil in an amount from 20-70% w/w in said oil and the said polymer or said mixtures of polymers in an amount from 15-80% w/w in said oil, for improving the reduction of smoke emission in the exhaust gases from two-stroke engines, said polymer or said mixtures of polymers having (i) a molecular weight (Mn) from 300-2000 and (ii) a proportion of n-butenes in the polymer backbone, as defined by the ratio of the infra-red absorbance of the -CH 2 CH 2 - n-butene units in the polymer at 740 cm -1 to that of the C-H overtone absorbance between 4315 and 4345 cm -1 , said proportion being lower than 0.2 for polybutenes with a value of Mn equal to or <700, and lower than 0.12 for polybutenes with Mn = >700. Use according to Claim 1 of a polybutene or mixture of polymers having a number average molecular weight (Mn) from 300-2000, characterised in that the proportion of n-butene in the polymer backbone, as defined by the ratio of the infra-red absorbance of the polymer at 740 cm -1 to that at 4335 cm -1 , is <0.2 at Mn of the polymer equal to or <700, and <0.12 at Mn of the polymer >700. Use according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the polybutene polymer is substantially free of chlorine. Use according to Claim 3, characterised in that the polybutene polymer is such that more than 60% of the unsaturated linkages in the polymer are of the vinylidene (....=CH 2 ) type. Use according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the polybutenes have a viscosity in the range of 2 to 670 cSt for Mn ranging from 310-1300. Use according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that said oil contains low ash additives and a hydrocarbon diluent to improve the handling of the oil and to enhance the miscibility thereof with the fuel. Use according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that said oil contains synthetic esters, poly-α-olefins and alkylated benzenes to produce high performance products.

Inventors: FOTHERINGHAM JOHN DAVID, MCMAHON JOHN, FOTHERINGHAM, JOHN DAVID, MCMAHON, JOHN, FOTHERINGHAM, JOHN DAVID, BP CHEMICALS LIMITED, MCMAHON, JOHN, BP CHEMICALS LIMITED
Applicants: BP CHEM INT LTD, BP CHEMICALS LIMITED
Application year: 1994
Main classification: C10M107
IPC codes: C10N20, C10M111, C10N40, C10M107